I was reviewing today in my mind which of my S&W handguns feels most natural in the hand. Honestly, the revolvers, while certainly effective guns, don't feel quite right, either with standard or target stocks. Most don't point naturally, either. The automatics, by and large, are better. But which one? I know that the gun that has always felt best in my hand, brand name aside, has always been the Remington Model 51 pocket automatic. John Pedersen outdid himself in its design to give it the best handling characteristics imaginable. But it's long been out of print. It's said that S&W engineers mimicked the Remington 51 in the design of the grip for the Model 39, and I think for the most part they succeeded in giving it a superior "feel" for the average hand. I'd have to agree, and nominate the Model 39 for the S&W ergonomic trophy. How about you?

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I'll second that. I was part time employee at a LGS back in the late 80s to mid 90s and always liked the way the 639 felt in my hand when showing it to customers...so I finally bought one last year and now it's my favorite 9mm next to my Browning HP.

Paladin,

I'm with you, now, if I could just get mine up-and-running!

Mike

Right about now my vote is solidly for this.

624 4"


But a close second is either of these.

624 3"


or

629-2


But a case could be made for old slab sides, damn if it doesn't fit the hand like a glove!

WARNING - NON S&W CONTENT



Then there's my old W. German Sig P220. That's for another day.

Not only is the Model 39 egonomic it looks good and is accurate too. Finding a better all around pistol is a challenge.

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J.D. Roy

As much as I like my wheelguns, my vote is also the venerable Model 39. It just fits my hand well. Even though I have several Gen 3 S&W semi-autos, none of the straight backstrap guns fit quite as nicely.

My vote goes with the 39 also, comfortable in the hand and seems to point on it's own to the bulls-eye.

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John. SWCA #1586

I carried a Model 39-2 for a year or two as a part-time small town PO and Sheriff's Deputy. Then carried it as a civilian for a few years, too. Not only does it point more naturally than anything else I ever used, it would ride inside my waistband, right behind my right hip, without a holster, and stay put better than anything else I've tried.

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Georgia On My Mind

39 followed by the current M&P Automatics.

The Model 39 was my carry piece in the SEA theater. Still fits my hand the best.

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SWCA 2082

I haven't tried them all, so I can't be sure which is best. So far, the Model 41 is the most ergonomic, followed by the 39. Everything else is also ran.

Thanks John. I only briefly held one and since, have had a rear-brain hankering for one. Guess I'll have to keep a sharp eye peeled for the right gun at the right price. Thanks again for waking up the brain to past experiences. You seem to be quite good at that. I'm guessing you are a few years older than me and I get to reap the rewards of your posted knowledge of quality guns from current to the sadly gone good old days. Shoot in good health.............

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Go big or stay home

I'd also vote for the M39, however, when S&W joined with Walther to produce the S&W99, it became the leader in the race. The ability to swap backstraps to better fit an individual hand made the S&W99 (and the Walther P99 that it came from) the best fitting handgun.

I have not held a 39 in years so my vote goes to the current S&W M&P auto.

I bought one in 1975 after shooting a Smith & Wesson Model 52...........WOW, I had to try to miss with that thing!!

I would have bought the 52 but it is strictly a target gun and shoots only 38 wadcutters.

I will go with the majority here and say the 39, or it's offspring, the 439, 539, 639. They feel like an extension of your arm. The most naturally pointing handgun ever.

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Expect no quarter.

Not that I have anything against rude case-tossing/evil bottom-feeding semi-autos, but I'll submit a few revolver candidates. First - I'll suggest one I've never owned - just fondled - a 4" 66 with decent wood grips - great pointer - extension of your hand - a trait the remaining examples exhibit, too. A recent buy, with a great handfit & feel, is the 3" 60 Pro. In fact, just those grips alone have transformed several of my RB J-frames to near contenders. Next up on my scale is the 2 5/8" PC627 UDR - with the S&W 'N-frame PC grips', #414170000. What a handful - easily trained - enough mass for great recoil control - and 8 rds of .38 or .357M.

But - my absolute favorite 'in the hand' - as an extension of the hand - easily pointed - and capable of normal .44 S&W Specials - my nearing nine year old 696, sporting Ahrends square-conversion/non fg grips in cocobolo:



Also shown above - a near contender -simply due to the grips! They really make a difference in the ergonomics (3" 63 with '60 Pro' grips.).

Stainz

PS Sad admission time... nothing seems as natural in the hand more so than a basic 1911 - or SAA - but I'll deny this in person, of course!

I think this 27-2 with a 5" barrel is perfect in every way. I'm not too into autoloaders but I have to agee with you Model 39 variation owners. So much I recently bought this 1979 version.

I obviously need to have my hands examined. A number of years ago I bought a Mod 52, which is the 38 special target version of the the Mod 39. It was without a doubt and by far the most accurate centerfire hand gun to ever cross my path, being fully capable of 1/2 inch five shots at 25 yards. It fit me so poorly that I reluctantly sold it down the river. That "lump" on the back of the grip frame was my undoing.

My vote for comfort goes to a 696 with Spiegel Boot Grips.

Ed

I does like my 39. Gotta get it dirty more often, maybe a scratch or two...

I absolutely agree with that assessment. I am a revolver guy through and through, but to me the 39 is the best feeling and pointing pistol I've ever owned.

Attached Images

duracote 001.jpg (37.6 KB, 9 views)

For me currently it's the one below. But I admit to never having had an opportunity the handle a M39, I'm thinking I need to. I did play with a couple of Browning Hi-Powers and week and a half ago and am hoping to buy one, they felt good.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

My vote is for the M41. That is the only S&W auto I own. In the revolver world, I like the N frame grip the best.

I've never handled an M39 that fit my grip at all.

On the other hand, the Dan Wesson CBOB and most 1911s fit just right.

But what REALLY fits my hand is
the 3 7/8" M610 and the M627!!!

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

The M-39 fits my hand well, but the only one I ever shot was very inaccurate. It wasn't me, for a I had a Browning 9mm, a Colt .45 Gold Cup, and an M-27 .357 at the range that day, and all shot as usual for me, and were very accurate.

It was a great pity, for I wanted one, and just couldn't see buying one if it shot that badly. I was firing at a 50 yard bullseye at just 25 yards, and couldn't even hit the black. The other guns chewed the X-ring and the 10 ring with no problem.

My current favorites are the M-60-4 with Pachmayr Presentation Compacs and the M-66-3 with older (two panel) Pachmayr Presentations.

My two brothers and I all have similar but different hands. This thread will always reflect a personal opinion. For me it is a K Frame RB 3"-4" bbl.

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Front sight and squeeze